The Defence Minister of India gave approval for the disability or war injury minimum monthly pension of Rs 18,000 for the Indian armed forces personnel.
“With approval from Nirmala Sitharaman, it has been decided that the disability/war injury pension, special family pension and liberalised family pension shall be minimum Rs 18,000 per month for Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, with effect from 1/1/2016,” the Defence Ministry said.
The Defence Ministry last July had said that armed forces personnel would continue to get disability pension based on percentage system till the Anomaly Committee came out with a report on the issue.
There was widespread criticism from opposition parties and the military establishment over a letter issued prior to that which had introduced a slab-based system, as recommended by the 7th Pay Commission, for determining the disability pension for defence forces.
Following this, the ministry had referred the matter to the Anomaly Committee. However, there was confusion as to what system would be used to determine disability pension. Till the committee comes out with a report, existing percentage system will be used to determine disability pension, defence sources said.